Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Anticancer Res 2019 Apr;39(4):1907-1914

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology-Hematology, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, U.S.A.

Background/aim: HPV-mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with an increased survival. The prognostic value of HPV status for other primary sites is unclear. We aimed to assess the effect of HPV status on overall survival in patients with non-oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (non-OPSCC) using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Read More

Am J Cancer Res 2019 1;9(3):479-495. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou 510080, P. R. China.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), arising from the nasopharynx epithelium, is prevalent among South and East Asia. The radiotherapy is the primary treatment for NPC patients. However, the acquired radioresistance dramatically diminishes the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy. Read More

Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2019 Mar 28;111. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centro Hospitalar de Gaia/Espinho, Portugal.

A 55-year-old female patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx stage in 2016 and proposed for radical chemo/radiotherapy. A percutaneous endoscopy gastrostomy was performed in 2016 because of the patient´s difficulty in swallowing. The patient had good response to therapy with disease´s remission so the gastrostomy tube was removed in 2018. Read More

Clin Exp Metastasis 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Discipline of Surgery, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.

Circulating microRNAs have been described as head and neck cancer biomarkers in multiple anatomical subsites including the oral cavity, nasopharynx, larynx, salivary glands and the skin. While there is an expanding volume of published literature showing the significance of individual or panels of microRNAs, the clinical validation of candidate biomarkers is lacking. The various methods used to collect, store, process and interpret these microRNAs are likely introducing bias and contributing to the inconsistent results. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Mar;7(5):616-622

Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92357, United States.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling has been shown to be a critical component of therapeutic option. Herein, we report a case of durable complete response to erlotinib. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

ENT Clinic, Develi HMK State Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the cell percentage of T regulator (Treg) cells of patients' specimens and disease severity, survivability, recurrence and metastasis in patients who were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Design, Setting And Participants: Sixty patients who were diagnosed as NPC and treated by the same protocol were enrolled to the study. Patient files were reviewed retrospectively and their clinical and pathological results were recorded. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 13;8:616. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.

Skin toxicity is a common adverse event during cetuximab (Cmab) treatment. However, few reports have investigated the correlation between skin toxicity and the efficacy of Cmab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). We retrospectively reviewed 112 R/M SCCHN patients who received palliative chemotherapy with Cmab. Read More

Oral Oncol 2019 Jan 27;88:131-136. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Otolaryngology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Importance: Evaluation of distant metastasis (DM) is part of every new cancer evaluation. Understanding DM presentation patterns may impact the imaging workup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Objective: Examine the frequency and location of DM at presentation in HNSCC. Read More

Ann Oncol 2019 Mar;30(3):471-477

Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

Background: The survival advantage of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by locoregional treatment is controversial in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC). We previously showed feasibility and safety of cetuximab-based IC (paclitaxel/carboplatin/cetuximab-PCC, and docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil/cetuximab-C-TPF) followed by local therapy in LAHNSCC. The primary end point of this phase II clinical trial with randomization to PCC and C-TPF followed by combined local therapy in patients with LAHNSCC stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status and T-stage was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) compared with historical control. Read More

Invest New Drugs 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Hematology-Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James), Columbus, OH, USA.

Purpose Vorinostat is a potent HDAC inhibitor that sensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to cytotoxic therapy while sparing normal epithelium. The primary objective of this Phase I study was to determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of Vorinostat in combination with standard chemoradiation therapy treatment in HNSCC. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed Stage III, IVa, IVb HNSCC, that was unresectable or borderline resectable involving the larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx. Read More

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Dec 4;47(1):74. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Rd, Module S - Room M2566, Box 216, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.

Background: We sought to expand upon preliminary data suggesting that metformin confers a survival benefit to patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: A large-scale retrospective cohort study of all patients in Ontario diagnosed with squamous cancer of the larynx, hypopharynx, and nasopharynx between Dec 1st 2007 to Dec 1st 2012 was undertaken. The Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences was accessed to obtain patient demographic, treatment and outcome information. Read More

Cancer Cytopathol 2019 Feb 26;127(1):26-34. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Background: The majority of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal carcinomas are squamous cell carcinomas; however, there are rare reports of HPV-associated neuroendocrine carcinomas (HPV-NECs) in the upper aerodigestive tract. The aim of this study was to characterize the diagnostic features of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases of head and neck HPV-NEC.

Methods: Cytology cases of HPV-NEC were identified over a 3-year period from 2 institutions. Read More

Oral Oncol 2018 Nov 21;86:132-140. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Objective: To evaluate OS and toxicity after definitive radiation with concurrent cetuximab (CTX-RT) compared to radiation with concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy (CRT) in older HNSCC patients via the SEER-Medicare linked database.

Materials And Methods: We used the SEER-Medicare linked database to evaluate OS in HNSCC patients (Oropharynx, Larynx, Hypopharynx, Nasopharynx) diagnosed over 2005-2011, following FDA approval of cetuximab in combination with radiation therapy (RT) in March 2006.

Results: 2135 beneficiaries were identified. Read More

Papillomavirus Res 2018 12 1;6:58-62. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address:

Background: Most tumours of the head and neck are attributable to smoking and alcohol use, but an increasing proportion of head and neck tumours are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The aim of this study was to use in house molecular assays to detect and genotype HPV in biopsies from patients with histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, the results were compared with p16 immunohistochemistry staining, which has been described as a potential marker for HPV infection. Read More

Crit Rev Oncog 2018 ;23(3-4):235-245

School of Dentistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) manifests in the mucosal epithelial lining of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx or larynx and has a tremendous disease burden worldwide. Smoking and alcohol consumption were once major risk factors, but HPV-associated infection has emerged as the major contributor to HNSCC occurrence in developed countries. Circulating biomarker evaluations in biofluids, also known as liquid biopsy, are an attractive alternative for cancer screening as they are minimally invasive, potentially low cost, and easily repeatable on a serial basis. Read More

Head Neck Pathol 2018 Sep 6. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-positive neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the nasopharynx is exceedingly rare, only two cases have been reported in the literature. While EBV infection is strongly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is carcinoma with squamous differentiation, the link between EBV and NEC is not well known, and can be diagnostically challenging. In this study, we report the third case of EBV-positive large cell NEC of nasopharynx with neck lymph node metastasis. Read More

PLoS One 2018 23;13(8):e0202790. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.

Background: Head and neck cancers include carcinomas of the oral cavity, larynx, sinonasal tract and nasopharynx. Studies on molecular expression of prognostic tumour markers in Ghana are scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of p53, p16, EGFR, Cyclin-D1 and HER2 among patients with non-oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Read More

South Asian J Cancer 2018 Jul-Sep;7(3):183-187

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, treatment, and factors that determine the outcomes of head and neck cancers (HNC).

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analytical review of HNC managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital between May 2007 and April 2017 using the International Classification of Diseases version 10.

Results: Of 487 head and neck neoplasms, 129 (26. Read More

Acta Radiol 2019 May 8;60(5):586-592. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Background: Dual-energy CT (DECT) provides additional image datasets which enable improved tumor delineation or reduction of beam hardening artifacts in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Purpose: To assess radiation dose and image quality of third-generation DECT of the head and neck in comparison to single-energy CT (SECT).

Material And Methods: Thirty patients with SCC who underwent both SECT (reference tube voltage 120 kVp) and DECT (80/150 Sn kVp) of the head and neck region for staging were retrospectively selected. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Jul;97(28):e11371

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Rationale: Most cases of lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) occur in the nasopharynx, and LEC in the sinonasal tract is extremely rare; thus, the clinical characteristics of sinonasal LEC are not well known.

Patient Concerns: A 63-year-old Japanese man presented with a three-week history of left cheek pain, nasal obstruction and cheek swelling.

Diagnoses: Enhanced CT and MRI revealed a tumor of the left maxillary sinus that invaded the left orbit and hard palate, with multiple swollen left cervical lymph nodes. Read More

Head Neck 2018 08 22;40(8):1697-1706. Epub 2018 Jun 22.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Preclinical and early-phase clinical studies have suggested an oncoprotective role of statins in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The purpose of this study was to determine whether incidental statin use in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative HNSCC is predictive of improved oncologic outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 1194 patients from the Ontario Cancer Registry diagnosed with HNSCC from 2007 to 2012 was performed using linked databases from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Jun;144(6):519-525

Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Importance: Data are limited on the prognostic value of human papillomavirus (HPV) status for head and neck carcinoma subsites.

Objective: To determine whether HPV positivity at each head and neck subsite is associated with improved overall survival.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective population-based cohort study used the National Cancer Database to identify patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Jun;144(6):483-488

Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Importance: A proactive speech and language pathology (SLP) program is an important component of the multidisciplinary care of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Swallowing rehabilitation can reduce the rate of feeding tube placement, thereby significantly improving quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate the initiation of a proactive SLP rehabilitation program at a single institution and its association with rates of feeding tube placement and dietary intake in patients with HNSCC. Read More

Cancer Treat Rev 2018 Apr 1;65:54-64. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, APHP, Department of Pathology, APHP, Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris-Cité University, Paris, France; INSERM U970, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France. Electronic address:

Cancer occurrence can be understood as the result of dysfunctions in immune tumoral microenvironment. Here we review the recent understandings of those microenvironment changes, regarding their causes and prognostic significance in head and neck (HN) carcinoma. We will focus on HN squamous cell cancer (SCC) and nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). Read More

J Dent (Shiraz) 2018 Mar;19(1):68-73

Dept. of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College & Research Institute, Bangalore, India.

Adenoid squamous cell carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma with features of adenoid pattern. It has been reported to originate in the sun- exposed skin of the head and neck region. Although rare, there are cases documented within the oral cavity and nasopharynx. Read More

Oncol Res Treat 2018 22;41(1-2):35-38. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.

Background: Correct pre-therapeutic staging of the first primary carcinoma (FPC) and detection of simultaneous second primary carcinomas (SSPCs) decisively influence therapy and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to determine the benefit of pre-therapeutic triple endoscopy for detection of SSPC and pre-therapeutic T category.

Methods: A cohort of 234 HNSCC patients with completed triple endoscopy was reviewed, focusing on pre-therapeutic T category and SSPC. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 09 2;128(9):2060-2066. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

Objectives/hypothesis: There is no general consensus on what kind of examination to include in an optimal detection strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary (SCCUPs). This study investigates the role of narrow-band imaging (NBI) in their identification.

Study Design: Case series. Read More

Head Neck 2018 05 22;40(5):1091-1100. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Background: Hematologic markers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), characterize the inflammatory response to cancer and are associated with poorer survival in various malignancies. We evaluate the effect of pretreatment NLR on overall survival (OS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: Using multiple databases, a systematic search for articles evaluating the effect of NLR on OS in patients with HNSCC was performed. Read More

Cancer 2018 Apr 16;124(7):1415-1427. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Background: There are few published studies to guide the treatment of carcinoma metastatic to the neck from an unknown primary (CUP). In this regard, the objective of the current study was to share the authors' current experience treating patients with CUP using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which principally targeted both sides of the neck, the nasopharynx, and the oropharynx.

Methods: This was a retrospective study in which an institutional database search was conducted to identify patients with CUP who received IMRT. Read More

Oncotarget 2017 Dec 14;8(64):108006-108019. Epub 2017 Nov 14.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) belongs to squamous cell carcinoma that occurs in the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx. Because of the anatomical position close to the cervical lymph node, some patients have a distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis that leads to treatment failure. Although early stages have a high curability and excellent prognosis, advanced NPC urgently requires new drugs developed to reinforce the effectiveness of therapy without noticeable side effects. Read More

Theranostics 2018 1;8(1):61-77. Epub 2018 Jan 1.

Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Center for Cancer and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Oncogenic STAT3 signaling activation and 3p22-21.3 locus alteration are common in multiple tumors, especially carcinomas of the nasopharynx, esophagus and lung. Whether these two events are linked remains unclear. Read More

Int J Gynecol Pathol 2019 Mar;38(2):183-188

Department of Pathology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast (K.S., J.T., G.M., M.B.L., P.J.K., W.G.M.) Department of Pathology, Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim (J.J.), Northern Ireland, UK.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma, which is histologically identical to lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the nasopharynx. LELCs have been reported at a variety of sites, including the stomach, salivary gland, thymus, cervix, endometrium, breast, skin, bladder, and lung. We report 2 LELCs of the vagina and 1 of the anal canal, the first report of LELC at the latter site. Read More

BMC Clin Pathol 2017 25;17:24. Epub 2017 Nov 25.

Department of Pathology, Hassan II University Hospital, 30000 Fez, Morocco.

Background: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a tumor mostly diagnosed in the nasopharynx, but it has also been described in a variety of nonnasopharyngeal sites. It is extremely rare in the larynx and should be distinguished from squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, it must be known by clinicians, pathologists and oncologists. Read More

BMC Oral Health 2017 Nov 28;17(1):139. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Xiantai Street 126, Changchun, 130033, China.

Background: A cervical cystic mass is associated with a number of pathologies that present with similar symptoms. These conditions are difficult to differentiate using fine-needle aspiration (FNA), ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another dilemma in the differential diagnosis of cervical cystic masses is due to the controversies associated with the existence of branchiogenic carcinoma (BC). Read More

J Cancer 2017 23;8(18):3887-3896. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a squamous epithelial cancer, arising from the nasopharynx epithelium. It has high morbidity and mortality. PFKFB3 as a glycolytic activator has been implicated in the progression of multiple types of tumor. Read More

Dent Clin North Am 2018 01 16;62(1):77-86. Epub 2017 Oct 16.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Today, most head and neck cancer subsites, such as the larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx, are treated with radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy as a primary treatment modality. Surgery is reserved for the salvage of recurrent tumors that occur within the head and neck in the absence of distant (ie, lung, liver) metastasis. However, unlike all other head and neck subsites, oral cancer should ideally be managed with primary surgery with the possibility of adjuvant radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy depending on the presence of certain high-risk pathologic features. Read More

Cancer Lett 2018 Sep 27;431:230-243. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Department of Experimental Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which originates from the nasopharynx, is highly prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia, and more than 90% of all NPCs are non-keratinizing undifferentiated cells or poorly differentiated squamous cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are capable of self-renewal and have differentiation potential. These properties form the basis of cancer initiation, development, and radiochemoresistance. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2018 03;42(3):367-371

Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is a low-grade malignancy that commonly arises in minor salivary glands of the oropharynx and other sites. EWSR1-ATF1 gene fusions seem to be specific for this salivary neoplasm. Testing for EWSR1-ATF1 has expanded the histologic spectrum of CCC. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Oct 4;2017. Epub 2017 Oct 4.

Department of Medicine, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.

An 84-year-old woman with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx and no history of diabetes was started on the antiprogrammed cell death ligand-1 (anti-PD-L1) antibody durvalumab. Four months later, she presented in diabetic ketoacidosis with glucose 488 mg/dL, anion gap 16, positive serum ketones and A9.1%. Read More

PLoS One 2017 19;12(9):e0184201. Epub 2017 Sep 19.

Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) comprises a large group of cancers in the oral cavity and nasopharyngeal area that typically arise in older males in association with alcohol/tobacco usage. Within the oral cavity, the mobile tongue is the most common site for tumour development. The incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is increasing in younger people, which has been suggested to associate with a viral aetiology. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 03 2;128(3):651-656. Epub 2017 Sep 2.

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Introduction: Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a rare, variant of squamous cell carcinoma with benign cytohistopathologic features and a generally favorable prognosis. Epidemiologic and clinical outcomes data are lacking as a result of limited cases of sinonasal VC.

Objective: To describe the incidence and determinants of survival of patients with verrucous carcinoma of the sinonasal tract between the years of 1973 to 2014 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Read More

Oncol Lett 2017 Aug 8;14(2):1665-1670. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.

Expression of p16 has been established as a good surrogate marker for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients, and it has been associated with an improved prognosis, irrespective of the actual HPV status. Conversely, the human insulin-like growth factor II mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) has been related to aggressiveness in several types of tumors. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare p16 and IMP3 as markers of favorable and unfavorable behavior, respectively, in head and neck SCC (HNSCC), with particular reference to the HPV status. Read More

Ann Maxillofac Surg 2017 Jan-Jun;7(1):98-103

Command Military Dental Centre, Lucknow, India.

Surgical accesses for the facial skeleton are based on the concept of modular osteotomies. Various techniques and combination of osteotomies facilitate access to the most inaccessible tumors of craniomaxillofacial region. Most appropriate surgical access is determined by considering size, location, extension of the tumor, and experience of the surgical team. Read More

Oral Oncol 2017 08 16;71:99-104. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NYC, NY 10029, United States. Electronic address:

Background: There is a clinical need to improve outcomes for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN), especially in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) negative and HPV positive subtypes with a significant history of tobacco use. In animal models bearing SCCHN, Cabazitaxel showed an excellent response rate compared to docetaxel and might prove useful in treatment of patients. The primary objective of this study was to determine the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of cabazitaxel when combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (PF) in induction chemotherapy (IC) for patients with SCCHN. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2017 Jul-Sep;43(3):287-290. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging "Colţea" Clinical Hospital, Romania.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of neoplasia which affects the mucosa of the upper aero-digestive tract. We present the case of a male patient that at the clinical exam showed a tumor mass at the rhinopharynx. The CT examination showed a tumor mass developed from the upper portion of the oropharynx, from the soft palate. Read More

Hum Pathol 2017 12 7;70:43-48. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Yachiyo 276-8524, Japan.

Thyroid-like low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma (TL-LGNPPA) is an extremely rare neoplasm originating from the nasopharyngeal surface epithelium. Histopathologically, TL-LGNPPA is characterized by cuboidal/columnar tumor cells forming papillary fronds and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression resembling papillary thyroid carcinoma. To date, the recorded histological features of TL-LGNPPA have been almost uniform, and the range of histological variations in this tumor type has not been sufficiently understood. Read More

Indian J Cancer 2016 Oct-Dec;53(4):478-482

Department of Pathology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India.

Introduction: The nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx though in continuity form a complex system of upper respiratory tract; this region is endowed with a variety of elements such as epithelial, glandular, lymphoid, cartilage, and bone and is also exposed to a variety of infections, tumor-like and true neoplastic conditions.

Aims And Objectives: To find out the frequency of various tumors and tumor-like conditions of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx.

Materials And Methods: The present study is an analysis of 206 tumors and tumor-like conditions of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx diagnosed during a period of 5 years. Read More

Respir Med 2017 05 1;126:116-121. Epub 2017 Apr 1.

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address:

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a benign disease of the upper aero-digestive tract caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which affects children and young adults. The aim of this review is to describe the main etiological, epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of RRP. Most infections in children occur at birth, during passage through the birth canals of contaminated mothers. Read More

Oncotarget 2017 Jun;8(26):42372-42381

Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China.

Background and Objetive: To evaluate treatment outcomes for patients with retropharyngeal metastatic undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from an unknown primary site.

Methods: From January 2005 to January 2015, patients who presented with enlarged retropharyngeal nodes underwent transoral sonography-guided fine-needle aspiration to confirm histology. Those with metastatic undifferentiated SCC with unknown primary tumors were treated with radical radiotherapy to nasopharyngeal mucosa plus bilateral neck. Read More